Not so long ago, a vast majority of children routinely roamed their neighborhoods on foot or bicycle almost as a rite of passage. Today, a new generation of moms and dads chauffeur their kids to nearly all their activities, fearing for their children's safety on streets due to perceived dangers from both crime and traffic. Researchers estimate while more than two-thirds of all children walked or biked to school as little as thirty years ago, that number has now plummeted to less than ten percent.

With less kids on foot, there are more cars on the road. Parents driving their children to school make up 20-25 percent of the morning commute. The more the traffic increases, the more parents decide it is unsafe for their children to walk, adding even more cars to the morning chaos.

There is a way to break the cycle. A new movement is emerging that is focusing on getting kids back on their feet and their bikes again. Parent and neighborhood groups, school and local officials, and traffic engineers are working together to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists along heavily traveled routes to school, while encouraging both parents and their kids to take advantage of the many benefits of getting around on foot or by bike. With new transportation funding available specifically for this purpose, communities all across California are discovering the many benefits of providing "Safe Routes to School."

Learning From the Global Experience

Communities all over the world have been introducing Safe Routes to School programs with tremendous success. Working together with parents, teachers, administrators, neighborhood groups, city officials and law enforcement officers, the regular routes to school are evaluated and measured. Street improvements, traffic calming and safe crossings increase the ability for children to walk or bike safely to school. The addition of special programs that teach good safety skills and utilize volunteers to help escort children increases the chances of a successful program.

How Can I Get Started?

Anyone can initiate a Safe Routes to School program. Ultimately the school district, city officials, parents and law enforcement need to work together for a successful program. While each community's needs are unique, every successful project has included the following elements:

• Invite stakeholders to participate in the planning process

  School administration, teachers, parents and children
  City officials including elected officials, public works, traffic safety and law enforcement
  Neighborhood groups and community leaders
  

• Gather basic data on how children are now traveling and why

  Survey parents and children
  Map out the basic routes that children use or could use
  Identify hazards
  Recommend remedies
  

• Obtain funding and implement engineering improvements

• Initiate Education and Enforcement programs in the community

• Create excitement in the program through media coverage and special events

• Evaluate the program and reintroduce it each year

A successful Safe Routes to School program will improve the health and safety of pupils by reducing traffic around school facilities and encouraging greater physical activity among students. It has the potential for improving pupils' behavior in school and on the school journey; it provides opportunities for learning, particularly under the theme of citizenship. In addition, a program that reduces school traffic improves relations with the school's neighbors.

City and county governments also recognize the benefits from participating in and implementing a safe routes program. Local jurisdictions will experience reduced traffic congestion and collisions in and around schools and reduced speed in neighborhoods, helping to improve the quality of life for all its residents. More people will be able to walk and bicycle as a result of improved access. And the community's children will experience greater independence as well as learn valuable traffic safety skills.

Getting Your Project Funded

Billions of dollars in federal and state transportation funds are increasingly opening up for bicycle and pedestrian projects. The Safe Routes to School bill in California specifically provides $20 million a year for Safe Routes to Schools projects through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The legislation is a two-year pilot project through 2001, but may be extended permanently if there is enough public support.

More information is available through the Caltrans Office of Local Programs at 916-653-4727 or on the web at www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/